Gutter circle and method of making same



Oct. 6, 1953 MIRACHLIN 2,654,555

GUTTER CIRCLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed April 4, 1947 M" Mm I!ilil'iill'lfllllliilijil'liil'lii INVEN TOR. My Eva/4m; BY

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 GUTTER CIRCLE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME MaxRachlin, Flushing, N. Y. Helen Pollock and Eva Rachlin, executricesdeceased of said Max Rachlin,

Application April 4, 1947, Serial No. 739,429

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a gutter circle and is more particularlydirected to a circle which has its major portion of channel or U-shapedsection, this portion merging into an attaching portion which issubstantially fiat.

It is one object of the invention to provide a gutter circle made from aminimum amount of metal and yet one which possesses sufiicient strengthto withstand extremely heavy loads Fig. 2 is a plan view taken fromabove of the blank after the same has been severed from the stock sheet,

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the blank shown in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the blank after the second forming step,

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the blank shown in Fig. 4,

imposed upon the supported gutter, Fig. 6 is a rear elevation similar toFig. 4

It is a particular object of the invention to but after the next formingoperation, provide an extremely strong gutter circle which F 7 is a e etion of the blank shown in is made with a minimum waste of material, theonly material being wasted being that Wasted Fig. 8 is a partial sideelevation similar to Fig. by trimming relatively small areas in order to'7 but te the final fo mi g step, improve the appearance of the finishedcircle. Fig. 9 i a b n p p ive vi w of h end It is a further object ofthe invention to pro- Portion of a modification, vide a gutter circlewith a bead retaining clip, Fig. 10 is a broken perspective view of theend the construction being such that the clip can be portion of anothermodification. inserted in slots in the circle and retained therein R frring now t t e rawi an m r p rby a simple manipulative step, ticularlyto Fig. 1, it will be seen that the com- It is another particular objectof the invention pleted gutter ircle comp i a u e pp tto provide achannel shaped circle with flanges ing Portion Which is Channel shaped 0U- extending from the base of the channel, these p d in Cross section-This Channel pe flanges being parallel throughout their lengths p tComprises the parallel flanges I d 2 j e and then merging into anattaching portion so as by the base 3, this base being designed toreceive to form sharply defined right angles between the d C a theglittera e l d 2 me e plane of the attaching portion and the parallelnto the p e DOrtiOIls 4 a d 5 Which a p planes of the flanges. videdwith perforations 12 so as to receive secur- Another detailed object ofthe invention is to ing means such as a ew bol s and the provide asubstantially fiat attaching portion like. Slots 8 and shown in Figs- 5and of a gutter circle with a raised central portion, are provi ed toreceive the C p e p in thus providing what may be termed a corrugarn i rtained in pl e y i e the outer tion which strengthens the attachingportion and p r o 16 a d 1 Of e a e l and 2 d0wnthus resists bendingstresses occasioned by over- Wardly so that each of the slots is e d inloading of the gutter, It is well-known th t width at its outermostportion. The base 3 of roof gutters frequently are subjected to overthechannel shaped section merges into the cenloading by ice and also byworkmen such as tral portion 16a which lies between the attachpaintersor the like, standing in the gutter or ing ears 4 and 5 and the p on iiacontinues placing ladders therein. The channel shape of upw rd y and isbent into the form of a retaining the major portion of the gutter circleand the l p I! which engages the uppe i n e f e corrugation of theattaching portion are specifigutter. cally designed to resist suchoverloading. The blank A shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is cut from a To theaccomplishment of the foregoing and sheet of metal (not shown), thesheet being aprelated ends, said invention, then, consists of the p e yas Wide as the length of e a means hereinafter fully described andparticu- Durin t e initial forming p Which y be larly pointed out in theclaims. cutting, sawing, stamping or otherwise, the lip The annexeddrawing and the following deii is bent slightly out of the plane of theblank scription set forth in detail one method and one A and the blankis trimmed to provide the curved product exemplifying my invention, suchdisend portion ill, the corresponding edges 6 and I,

closed procedure and product constituting, however, but one of variousapplications of the principle of my invention.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the completed gutter circle,

as well as the slots 8 and 9, and the curved end portion adjacent thelip II. All of this is done in one operation, thus saving time and laborand providing blank formed with a minimum amount of waste. It may bestated that the edges 6 and 1 at the right hand end of the blank A,

i) a as seen in Fig. 2, are results of the trimming operation, thistrimming being done solely to enhance the appearance of the guttercircle in its final condition.

After the blank A has been formed by severing from a sheet of stock, itis then converted into a channel shaped member as shown in Figs. 4 and5. Here it will be noted that the flanges I and 2 are co-extensive andparallel and eX- tend throughout the length of the circle to form theintermediate product orblank B. (See Figs. 4 and 5.)

The blank B is then subjected to a turther forming operation in whichthe attaching D01- tion is formed, this portion comprising spaced ears dand separated. by the central area. It. It is also to be noted that inthis step, the area 16a lies in a plane slightly out of the plane of theears 4 and 5, this resulting in what may be termed a corrugation whichin turn lends considerable strength to the attaching portion and P ventsthe same from bending. This is a very important feature of my invention.

The clip 13 is next inserted in slots 8 and 9, after which the outerportions Iii-4'5 of the circle are bent toward flanges I and 2respectively so that the slots decrease in width, thus retaining theclip in place. This bending may be performed by exerting force againstthe outer base portion 3 in the direction of the arrow Fig. 8', so thatthe small triangular portions l6 and H are bent about the clip 13 asshown in Fig. 8.

Referring nowto the clip, it will be noticed that this comprises. awire-like member having a longitudinal portion it which is considerablylonger than the distancebetween the flanges i and 2., This relativelylongitudinal portion i3 is provided at its ends with hook members M andI15. The length of the clip, or stated in other words, the distancebetween the hooks l4 and [.5 is quite important since this permits theuse of a single size of gutter circle with several different sizes ofgutter. This last result is due to the fact that this clip is ofresilient material and also because of the spacing of the hooks so thatthe hook- Hi, for example, may be slipped over thebead of a gutter,after which the hook l5 can he slipped over the side according to thedimensions of the gutter circle.

Referring now to Fig. 9, it will be seen that the parallel flangeslat-2a are bent along a line 2i; and forced toward each other so as toabut in the region between the line as and the lower outer edge of thecircle. It is not deemed necessary to show a complete circle since theend portion only is modified, and the portion of the circle not shown inFig. 9 corresponds exactly with the circle shown in Fig. l. The bendingof the flanges and forcing the same together imparts strength to theoutermost portion of the gutter circle, which is the point of greateststress. This modification is provided with a slot 2! adapted to receivea clip as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now to the modification in Fig. 10, this view is similar toFig. 9 in that the remainder of the circle, which is not shown,corresponds to a like portion of the circle shown in Fig. 1. In thismodification the blank need not be trimmed to provide the curved edges 6and 1 as shownin Fig. 2 and consequently the blank will resemble arectangle except for the curved portions adjacent the attachingapertures 12. Instead of trimming, the outermost portions 22 and 23 offlanges 2b and lb respectively are overlapped to form a closed clipreceiving pocket.

d The clip 24 is easily inserted in the pocket formed by the overlappingportions 22 and 23 and after insertion, the ends 25 and 26 contact theexterior portions of flanges lb and 2b. The opposite end of the clip 24,that is the rounded portion, obviously is adaptedto engage the head of agutter. This modification differs from the others in that waste isreduced to a positive minimum, and the clip engages the flanges of thegutter circle rather than a slot in such flanges.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a gutter circlewhich can be made with an extremely small amount of waste and it will befurther noted that I can form my gutter circle with a relatively fewsimple steps. In addition, it will. be. noted that I have provided aclip which is permanently secured to the circle and one whichcan be usedwith various sizes of gutters. In addition, the clip can be easilyattached to a gutter circle bead, as. distinguished irornclips havinghook portionsv relatively closely spaced, thus requiring a differentsize, of gutter with each size of gutter circle.

In conclusion, it will be seen that I have pro.- vided a strong guttercircle since the gutter supporting portion is of channel shapethroughout its length and it merges into a reinforced at.- tach-insportion, the parallelflangesl and; 2: of the channel shapedportionextendi-ng; at sharp right angles to the attaching portion.

Other forms may be employed embodying. the features of my inventioninstead of the one here explained, change being made,- in the form orconstruction, provided the elements stated by any of the following;claims, or the equivalent of such stated elements be employed, whether;produced by my preferred method or by others embodying steps equivalentto those stated in the following claims.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention2' 1. A method of making a gutter circle which comprises the steps ofproviding a flat sheet of metal, then forming a substantially fiat,substantially rectangular blank, then bending said blank into an arcuatechannel shaped member with parallel flanges in one step, then bendingsaid flanges at one end of the channel shaped member to form anattaching portion that; extends completely in a plane at right angles tothe plane of each of said flanges.

2. A method of making agutter circle which comprises the steps ofproviding a flat sheet of metal, then forming a substantially rectanular blank, simultaneously with said forming operation trimming one ofthe ends of said blank and providing slots in said one end of the blank;then, bending saidv blank into an arcuate channel shaped member withparallel flanges in one step, then bending said flangesv at. one end ofthe channel shaped member to form an attaching portion that extendscompletely in a plane at right angles to the plane of each of saidflanges.

3. A method of making, a gutter circle which comprises the steps ofproviding a flat sheet of metal, then forming a substantiallyrectangular blank, simultaneously with said forming operation providingslots in one 'end of said blank, then bending said blank into an arcuatechannel shaped member with parallel flanges, then bend ing said flangesat one end of; the channel shaped member to form an attaching portionthat extends completely in a plane at right angles to the plane of eachof said flanges, and then in serting a clip in said slots and finallysecuring said clip in said slots.

4. A method of making a gutter circle which comprises the steps ofproviding a flat sheet of metal, then forming a substantiallyrectangular blank, simultaneously with said forming operation providingslots in one end of said blank, then bending said blank into an arcuatechannel shaped member with parallel flanges, then bending said flangesat the other end of the channel shaped member to form an attachingportion that extends in a plane at right angles to the plane of each ofsaid flanges, and then inserting a clip in said slots, and finallybending said one end to decrease the width of said slots beyond saidclip whereby said clip is retained in place.

5. A method of making a gutter circle which comprises the steps ofproviding a fiat sheet of metal, then forming a substantiallyrectangular blank, simultaneously with said forming operation trimmingone of the ends of said blank and providing slots in said one end of theblank, then bending said blank into an arcuate channel shaped memberwith parallel flanges in one step, then bending said flanges at one endof the channel shaped member to form an attaching portion that extendscompletely in a plane at right angles to the plane of each of saidflanges, then pressing said flanges together at the other end of saidchannel shaped member to strengthen the outermost part of said circle.

6. A gutter circle comprising a channel shaped, arcuate, guttersupporting portion, an attaching portion at one end of said arcuateportion, the gutter supporting portion having flanges that are parallelfrom said attaching portion throughout the major portion of theirextent, said flanges merging together and contacting each other at theend of said gutter supporting portion opposite to said attachingportion, the planes of the flanges and the plane of the attachingportion being disposed at right angles and the juncture of such planeslying along parallel straight lines.

MAX RACI-ILIN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 330,129 Kent Nov. 10, 1885 664,637 Heib Dec. 25, 19001,540,004 Hiering June 2, 1925 1,573,206 Thompson Feb. 18, 19261,635,690 Richner July 12, 1927 1,639,916 Wilson Aug. 23, 1927 1,678,874Rachlin July 31, 1928 1,735,622 Steckler et al Nov. 12, 1929 1,903,861Gray Apr. 18, 1933 2,132,587 Steckler Oct. 11, 1938 2,199,436 LazaridesMay 7, 1940 2,233,049 Gray Feb. 25, 1941

